Northern Notes.

A Special Branch Meeting of the Auckland branch of the N.Z.T.A. was held recently to consider the proposal of the Executive to alter the existing rules so as to admit of the adding of a provident branch. The attendance was small, but represented very fully the intelligence of the branch. Circulars, with copies of the proposed alterations and additions to rules, having been distributed several days previously, the matter had been well talked over prior to the meeting, and no time was lost in passing the following resolutions:—(1.) « That whilst expressing sympathy with the objects shadowed forth in the proposed alterations of rules, the branch is of opinion that it is undesirable at present to entertain such proposals. » (2.)« That the Executive be urged to at once take the necessary steps for joining the Australasian Typographical Union. »

This latter resolution was adopted in view of the evident necessity of acquiring greater power to combat with the evils under which the members of the profession in New Zealand are now suffering, and it was considered of paramount importance; as, owing to our present impotence, the master printers are pursuing, unchecked, a policy of unfair competition as decidedly detrimental to their own interests as to those of the men. The chief objects of the Society are practically a dead letter at present, in many places—namely, the keeping up of a fair standard of remuneration for labor, and preventing the employment of an undue or unfair number of apprentices in the various offices—and in consequence the value of the trade as a profession is fast depreciating. It was in the hope of placing the Association in a position to check this downward tendency, and ultimately raise the status of the trade, that our branch passed resolution No. 2, which they believe will, if acted upon, be more likely to revive the hopes of the men, and create confidence in the Society, and augment its numbers, than the late proposals of the Executive.

I was pleased upon reading your able article on the above subject in the last number of Typo, and it certainly seems a pity that employers cannot see the evil of their ways in the light you so clearly put it. I should be glad to see some other journals taking up this subject in the same spirit in which you have done. I might also add that every printer would do well to endeavor to make the merits of Typo as a trade journal more widely known, as it cannot fail to be appreciated by those who read it, on account of its value to printers generally, and especially to jobbing hands, either young or old.

The Hawke's Bay branch of the N.Z.T.A. met on the 3rd inst., to consider Mr D. P. Fisher's suggested change in the constitution of the Association. The proposed alterations, as we stated in our last issue, are of a fundamental character, embracing a sick and funeral fund, old age and accident allowances, &c. One of the members present strongly opposed the change, urging that there were already enough friendly societies to meet all requirements; that most of the provident members were already enrolled in some institution of the kind; and that it was questionable whether in such a limited field enough members could be found to join to make the institution sound from an actuarial point of view. Other members spoke quite as strongly in support of Mr Fisher's proposals, which were approved by the majority of the members present.